mau tu nhien - ham anh

8/14/2019 Mau tu nhien - Ham Anh

1/61


2/61

Mu t nhin Natural color


3/61

Mu t nhinth Hm Anh

Natural c olor

English version by Trnh L

Copyright Hm AnhCopyright bn ting Anh Trnh L

vhNH XUT BN VN HC


4/61

Natural color Mu t nhin

to you a word I hand overjust let it fall in your heart

like a dice, six-faced and unpredictableand there youll see at least once in a while:

a whole season of the old time...

ti trao cho bn mt con chbn hy n ri trong lng

nh vin xc xc su mt bin hac ln ra l:

c mt ma xa...


5/61


Li u sch

C mt ma xa m ti c c t nhng bi thny c th gi gn vo mt cu, rng i ng chn,nhng ta vn mun mnh c hnh phc.

Nhiu ln trong lc c tp th ny, ti rung ngvi cm gic ang c nghe mt ging th tr tnh

ch thc, p y ha hn. ch thc, v nhngvn th y l kt tinh long lanh ca nhng giy phtsng to khn cng khi nim v cm xc tri dyt thm su tim thc thnh nhng biu tng c tnhlin h mnh lit, hon ton ngoi tm kim sot ca thc. p , v chng chn tht, hng thin, vinhng t th ti gin m vang ng su xa, dt vonhau thnh mt chui li a dng trong thanh m, vniu v ngha.

Cm xc ng li tht trong lng v thao thit.

Him lm thay!

Xin trn trng gii thiu Mu t nhin cng bn c.

Trnh L, thng Hai 2008

Forewords

The whole season of the old times given to me bythese poems could be wrapped into one sentence, thatLife is disappointed, but we still want to be happy.

Many a time while reading through this selection, Ivebeen thrilled with a feeling that Im hearing a genuine

and beautiful voice in lyrical poetry, full of promises.Genuine, because these poems shine as the tangibleexpression of irrepressibly creative moments whenthoughts and feelings emerge from the subconscious inthe form of symbols with powerful associations, com-pletely beyond conscious control. Beautiful, becausethey are sincere, inspired by the Good, with minimalyet resonant poetic ideas woven into a ow of wordsrich in sound, rhyme, rhythm and meaning.

The sensation is pure, profound, and impassioned.

What a rarity!

Im honoured to presentNatural color.

Trinh Lu, February 2008


6/61

Mu t nhin.......................Tng = new M.....................Hn c ci cht....................Chim chch bng.................Gi Bu-nhin........................

Lau sy................................Ngun sng..........................Mt bc tranh .....................V hoa.................................

Mt nhn vt caMilan Kundera...............

i nghch ..........................Yu......................................

Nh......................................

Khng - C..........................ng iu............................

Ngi chm la...................Ng ma..............................Him nguy...........................Tnh r ................................Ci ma ..............................Ht au ...............................Con sn ..........................

Natural color

Dedication = new MMore than Death

A whitethroatTo Bunin

ReedsSource of light

A paintingAbout owers

A character ofMilan Kundera

PolaritiesLove is like...Missing you

To Have - To LoseIn harmonyThe kindlerRain sleep

DangerLove roots

RaindomA pearl of agony

A snail

9

7

9

2123

25

27

35

7

9

4

4

45

47

49

51

53

55

Mc lcContents

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

12

4

15

6

7

18

9

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

2829

30

32

4

35

6

7

38

9

40

4

42

4

44

45

Gng mt tnh yu ......a hoa long lanh .........Giu vo ma ................V .............................Im lng ..........................

on khc Sakura .........Huyn diu ....................Lu du .........................Ti .................................

Sng gi ......................Ta ca ma sau ..............Hi sinh .........................Chuyn kip ..................V anh 1...........................

V anh 2 ........................Gic m Ging sinh .......

Nay mai ........................Ngy ma ......................An i .............................Mt tri mi .................Sng, c, la v trng.....Ri .................................Bay ................................

Vissage of loveA shining ower

Concealed in the rainUntitledSilence

Sakura 1, 2, 3A miracle

VestigesI

Frosty fogI of the next season

ResurrectionChanging life

You

You 2Christmas dream

SomedayRainy day

ConsolationNew sun

River, grass, ame and the moonFalling

Taking off

57

6

6

65

67

69

75

77

79

81

83

87

89

9

9

95

97

99

101

103

105

107

109


7/61


8/61


9


I want to see you my loveas clearly as possibleswitch off the light, turn off the music,

and the darkness, tooyes, the darknessthat solid blackness

full of implication.

I need something empty, colorlessor a color thats unnameableright now, pleasehurry!

Em mun nhn thy anhtht rhy tt n i, hy tt nhc i,

hy tt c bng tivng, bng tien c

y ng .

Em cn mt ci g rng, khng muhay mt mu khng th gi c tnngay lc nynhanh ln!


9/61


Tng = New MDedication = New M

Silent I had beenfor ten years

fear camouaged with pride.The Multitudeoverwhelming and almightysucking with declamation and pseudomania.The Multitudewill be here for evervaried only in colors.Is anybody there?Help!

Ti im lngmi nm

du s hi vo kiu hnh.m ngquyn nng ln lt, nhn chmsc ht tuyn ngn, ngy to.m ngvn cn mun in ch i mu thi.C ai y khng?Cu - ti!


10/61


More than death Hn c ci cht

You give me freedom my loveYou give me deathI want to call outloud but I cantMouths already full of darkness.

Now I gonna lift my freedomas ancient Atlas lifts the earthstill and dumband in solitude.

Anh trao t do cho emAnh trao ci chtEm mun ku to ln m khng cming y bng m.

No, ta nng t do ca ta lnnh v thn c xa nng cao tri tcm lngv c c.


11/61


12/61


7

A whitethroat Chim chch bng

Oh, out therea whitethroat so jauntythis fall morn a bird so early

hopping about on a rose bush...

Was Ionce a little childrushing outchasing it with my eyes?

, ngoi kiamt ch chim chch bngsm ma thu

nhn nh bn bi hng...

C phi ti tng nh tr nhchy lao tiv nhn theo bng n?


13/61


9

To Buni n Gi Bu-nhin

A Spring morning early and windyFlowers blown to a garden corner alreadyTheir spirit white and pristineTrampled and soiled in foot prints!

Mi sm xun gi thiGc vn bao hoa riV bao bn chn dmLn hn hoa trng ngi!


14/61


21

Reeds Lau sy

Women, like reedsCan sing only when the wind blowsTheir cry of joy saturated with sorrow.

Then comes a fall eveninghair turning white

Alone by a river Ilisten to the reeds singing...

Nhng ngi n b nh lau syht ln nh giting reo u bun.

C mt chiu thubc tc

mt mnhnghe lau sy bn sng...


15/61


23

Source of l ight for my daughter H.A.

Ngun sngVit cho con gi H.A ca m

When your lipstouch your mothers breast

a lamp lights upin this heart.

Ha Noi, February 2006

Khi mi conchm vo v m

c mt ngn n bng lntrong tim.

H Ni - thng 2, 2006


16/61


25

A paintingRespectfully to TL the artist

Mt bc tranhTrn trng tng ha s TL

Mother prays by a kerosene lamplove casts its shadows

crimson glows and brown deepensa ripple on my heart or your robe folds?

Mother prays by a kerosene lamptime worn hands counting destiny beadsMother you dont look uphow can I know if youre in sorrow?

M ngi tng kinh bn ngn n duyu thng ht bng

sng - nu sngnp o hay lng con gn sng?

M ngi tng kinh bn ngn n dubn tay thi gian, ht trng s phnmt m khng ngc nhn lnlm sao con bit m au?


17/61


27

About f lowers V hoa

Those owers seem blissfulIn that worthless vaseFlowers are to be cheerfulEven though smashed.

Nhng bng hoa hoan hTrong chic bnh ti tnL hoa th ti tnCho d c nt tan.


18/61


19/61


A character of

Milan Kundera

Mt nhn vt ca

Milan Kundera

Howling gale whirls along the dark alleyI turn myself into a pair of socks warming your feetinto a blanket, a pillowand in doing so become embodiedand born into this world...

Gi h thi dc ng di tm tiEm bin thnh i tt m chn anhbin thnh chn, thnh giv em c hu hnhv em c sinh ra...


20/61


i nghchPolari t ies

Depressiondepression

depression...The very one I love mostWill hurt me more than anyone elseAs Life and DeathSorrow and HappinessLife as an open wound unhealing and fresh!

Bun bbun b

bun b....Chnh ngi ta yu thng nhtS lm ta au hn ai ht trn iNh Sng ChtNh Kh au Hnh phcNh cuc i l mt vt thng ti!


21/61


35

Love is l ike. . .

Yu

A giant beast heaving a sigh

The sea in a pitch dark night

A dawn glowing in rosy pink greyish

A dazzling beam of light

A lava stream rushing down

The eyes of a doe!

Nh mt con th ln th di

Nh bin m en ti

Nh mt ban mai xm hng

Nh lung sng chi li

Nh dng nham thch tun tro

Nh mt mt con nai!


22/61


7

Missing you Nh

I miss you my lovelike missing my soul one gloomy day when it goes

away chasing sunshineleaving this shell of mine lost and amazed?

I call out loud for you my loveas a doe cries for its mate

echoing dreamlike over the hillside.

I passion you, passioning, passioning

a rain-embalmed mountain hamletvapouring into a foggy sunset.

Em nh anhnh nh linh hn mnh

mt hm vng nng b chi xa li thn xc ny ng ngc?

Em ku anhnh ting con nai tc

vng qua trin i m.

Em tha thit anh, tha thit, tha thit

nh xm nh vn chiu chn ni ta hng ma.


23/61


9

To have-To lose Khng - C

One day love just fell upon melike a magical twig.

I buried my love

Unexpectedlya ower bud sprang up!

I let goand it shattered

into a sun-raying glow!

Oh well, things that we dont haveWill never get lost.

I carry my growing loveMiraculously, as if expecting a child.

Mt hm tnh yu ri vo tinh nhnh cy kh kia k l.

Ti vi tnh yu ca ti xung

Bt ngny ln mt mm hoa!

Ti bung tnh yu ca ti rav tan

thnh mun ngn tia nng!

hay, nhng g khng phi cs chng bao gi l mt i?

Ti mang khi tnh ti dn lndiu k nh p thai nhi.


24/61


4

ng iuIn harmony

Were beyond the reach of touchbecause we are not waterto be full or half full, or drunk to satisfaction.Were beyond the reach of touchbecause we are not bricks and mortarto build a house then make traveling an inhibition.

Were beyond the reach of touchsince were the dragony wing vibration over the waterthe trembling moment when a leaf parts with its stemthe unperceivable quake of a bud breaking upthe indiscernible gradation of dusk and dawnand the invisible whirl in the airthat twists the mast and sails to freedom on high seas.

Were beyond the reach of touchbecause we are soul mates in perfect harmonyLook, the Creators smiling and deserts are blooming.

Were beyond the reach of touchbecause were a speck of dustfrom uncountable samsara a ksana!

Khng ai chm c vo chng tav chng ta khng phi l nc m ong cho y, tha mn kht khao.Khng ai chm c vo chng tav chng ta khng phi l vi va xy ln mt ngi nh ri li ngi i xa.

Khng ai chm c vo chng tav chng ta l sc rung ca cnh chun mt ncmt thong rng mnh khi chic l la cym h lm khi chi non tch vkhi bng ti lan ra, khi nh sng rng ngyv cun cun v hnh nh l givn ct bum giong t do ra khi.

Khng ai chm c vo chng tav chng ta l i hn ng iukhin con to phi mm ci, sa mc bng n hoa.

Khng ai chm c vo chng tav chng ta l ht bi ri ra t hng kip lun hi ta l mt st-na!


25/61


4

Ngi chm laThe kindler

Many a time I seeas though I am dying againa gold sh staring out from inside her tankwatching you and life passing by.

Again I become a vacuumeven a touch of life is impossiblewheres my soul?wheres my home?

Am I destined to stand on the marginlonging to be in, always,as a poor child longing for an ice-creamnot knowing how boring is the taste of vanila?

Come and hold me fast, my love,crush me please, re-draw me, re-write me,and in darkness youll be the kindlerto ignite the sun and make it rise

patientlyday by day...

C nhiu khi ti thymnh li dng nh ang cht i nynh con c ging mt bun trong bnhn anh v cuc i tri qua.

Li tr v vi trng thi chn khngli khng th chm vo i sngnh ca ti u?hn ca ti u?

Hay s phn l ti phi lun lun ng bn lthm c sngnh a tr nh ngho thm mt chic kem qued cuc i nhiu khi cng ch l hng v ca vani?

Anh hy m ly em i, nghin nt em ihy v li em i, hy vit li em i,m ti n hy l ngi chm lathi bng mt tri ln

nhn nimi ngy...


26/61


45

Ng m aRain sleep

I rain for you to sleep my loveOut there is already Spring

Almond fruit trees are all buddingtheir rst greening seems so hesitating.

I rain for you to sleep my lovesoothing the wrinkles of timesheltering you with a longing mistmaking you green again with tenderness...

em ma cho anh ngngoi kia ng ma xun

nhng cy bng tri lxanh non n ngi ngn.

em ma cho anh ngma du vt thi gianma ging m thng nhma xanh anh du dng...


27/61


47

Him nguyDanger

I want to be loved by you as a brown little molenot as a wonderful book,

or a wow dressI want you to love even my dark complexion,

my forgetfulness, whimsicality,

and negligence at play and in sleep...

And I want to fall as an imaginary wild leafmindlessly, tenderly, onto you the surfaceof a depthless water

crystal clear in an abandoned mine

you - are - for - nothingI - nobody - would - touch

I dare whoever to rescue a drowing one here me?

Em mun c anh yu nh mt nt rui nukhng phi nh mt cun sch hay,

mt mu o pEm mun c anh thng c nc da en

ci nt hay qun, tnh kh tht thng

nhng lc chi li, ng nng...

V em mun c ri nh mt chic l manxung mt nc anh l ng, nh nhngnc h moong* su hom, vt trong

anh chng lm gem khng ai chm ti

Em m xung y ri ai dm vt em khng?

* H nc to bi mt vng thi m l thin, thng suvi trm mt, m trong l lng, rt lnh v nguy him


28/61


49

Tnh rLove roots

I wish we could turn ourselves into trees my loveso that our branches could grow entwined,

and we could eternally be side-by-side,becoming an ancient couple rough and allentangled roots tap, brous and aerial.And even such will not be enoughThis longing is so crazed and wildas a tangible sorrow takes root deep into night...

Anh nh, c g chng mnh bin thnh cy c chm l giao cnh, bn nhau mi mi,Thnh mt i cy sn si c iMc c r ci, r con, r chm, vn vt sang nhau.M, du th th vn khng ht c uNi nh ny hoang diNh nhng lng r bun - lan - mc - vo - m...


29/61


51

Ci maRaindom

Ten ngers longing, excruciatingReaching into space, reachingWhy is this unreachable?Love too late a lost lovedom!

Ten ngers longing, excruciatingBrushing the face of timeLife becomes as a falling leafso embarrassingly light?

Ten ngers longing, excruciatingmelting

disappearing...

Mi ngn tay but nhVn mi vo khng gianV sao l khng th?Mt ci yu l lng!

Mi ngn tay but nhVut ln mt thi giani ngi thi chic lNh tnh n b bng?

Mi ngn tay but nhchy

tan....


30/61


53

Ht auA pearl of agony

I swallow you as a pearl my loveA full concretion of this lifes experienceA shiny pearl of agony!And I shall not show you off

on naked skinits chilling

But will silently hold you fast in my heartfor myriad lives waiting.

Em ngm anh - mt ht ngc traiAnh l kt tinh nhng nm tri kip nymt ht au lng lnh!Em s khng khoe anh u

da trntri lnh

s cm nn ngm anh trong lngcho mun vn kip sau.


31/61


55

Con snA snail

Sometimes sorrow is too painfulI want to be sluggish as a snailburrowing into you my love

as though into a mobile home of mine,then unseen at night falldragging on as a sore

in the tranquilityof the garden Ill crawl...

i khi au n quem mun l m nh mt con snchui vo anh

nh ci nh di ng ca mnh,ri m xung khng ai thyb i nh mt ni bun

trong khu vnyn tnh...


32/61


57

Gng mt t nh yuA portrait of love

I dont want my loves face to be sadSo I portray it with colors only bright and glad,

If it still makes you melancholy somehowLets blame it on the gloomy grey of this foggy eveningor the hue of time in the neverness of everything?

Ti khng mun gng mt tnh yu ca ti bunNn chn v nhng sc mu ti sng,

Nu vn c mt cht g lm bn vn vngy bi ti sc chiu sng xmHay mu ca thi gian ging mt ci v thng?


33/61


34/61


6

A shining flower a hoa long lanh

I needto maintain a gure in my heart

so that this sorrow will be for ever

like a shining owergrowing up

from desolation...

Ti cngi mt bng hnh trong tim

nim au ny mi mi

nh a hoa long lanhmc ln

t trng tri...


35/61


6

Concealed in the rain Giu vo ma

No, I still cry until bleedingfor the dream of my own homecry

in days of harsh downpoursthen when the sun shinesagain I would standlike a bird soothing its feathersby an autumn lake calm and clear.

Khng, ti vn khc n r mucho gic m t m ca mnhkhc

vo nhng hm ma tht tori khi nng lnli nh con chim ng ra cnhbn h thu trong veo.


36/61


65

Untit led V

Firewood piled in the garden wet in drizzleThe mossy way of Zen cushions stepping heels

Senselessly banana blooms in the corner of eveningA deep echo carries all into non-existence...

Ci rp ngoi vn cho ma biRu ph li thin nng bc chn

Gc chiu hoa chui l m nThong mt ting trm sang ci khng...


37/61


67

Silence Im lng

Oh, those streetswalking signs of sadness

human facesebbing waves

How beautiful are the sleepy roofsthe dreamy drizzle

deserted alleys...

then heaven and earth get immergedin a rising wave of mist

or of silence...

, ng phl nhng du bun i

gng mt ngisng ln

p lm sao l mi ph ng mma bi m

ng vng ...

v dng ngp t trisng

hay l s im lng ...


38/61


69

Sakura 1, 2, 3 on khc Sakura*

1. 1.

Sakurahng

thao thit n bn trim qua em n vi tilng t hi lng

l eml hoa

hay l mng?

Sakuraruddy

blossom passionately under the skyyou came to me last nightand I keep asking

was it youor a ower

or a dream of mine?

* Sakura: hoa anh o (ting Nht)* Sakura: Japanese name for the cherry blossom

l l hi


39/61


7

2. 2.

Sakurapale

painfully whiteknowing its only onceso in silencefall.

Sakuratrng

n au lngbit l ch mt lnnn im lngri.

N t l l M t hi


40/61


7

3. 3.

Sakura Sakuraim nhin bn thnh c

mt cnh hoa ri

mt nc khp li rich cn li nhng bng ngi

ca ngn nm trctay trong tay vn tha thit ni ci

hay l gi trong vnxao ng?

Sakura Sakuraby the ancient citadel so calm

a petals down

the waters been still againbut the living souls

from milleniastill converse lovingly hand in hand

or is it the roaming winds in the gardenrustling?



41/61


75

A miracle Huyn diu

Hey looka green frogturns itself into a leafbut the eyes remain, two big dropsthere in the wet garden cornerwhile it rains...

Nhn xemcon ch xanhbin thnh chic lcn ng li hai git mt toni gc vn m tma



42/61


77

Vestiges Lu du

In rain has dissolved a whole lifeVanished the cooking re cozy with mother nearbyThe pure childhood endued with the jungles agrance,Wealthy mountain home now a past so distantBuried in high grass

lost in anxious cries of monkeys and birds.

Everything has dissolved in rain

The old convent crumbled, abandonedWhere have all the dear nuns gone?Only a crucix of light still cuts through a wall

as a silent eye of the heavenly vaultAnd a dumb belfrys shrouded in wild roots aerial...

Does anyone seeThe souls of the old days vaguely thereWhitish among those trees in blurred overlaysIn rain a pair of blood bay horses pranceScenes long passing still so lively in the mist.

Look, that bird took shelter under foliage in rainNow that the sun is out againIts ying away with a teardrop held in its bill!

C cuc i ri tan bin di maTan bin di ma hnh bng m to tn bp laTui th trong veo thm m khi nng rng,Sn tri sung tc nay ngt ngn c lcVn h chim ku ng ngc hi ngi.

Tt c mi iu ri tan bin di maTrng dng c b hoang

Cc tu n u ri?Ch cn li cy thp t nh sng khc vo tng

nh con mt tri lng lGc chung cm vn vt m dy rng...

C ai thy khngNhng linh hn xa m h ngoi Rng sng trng nhng thn cy m tTrong ma ri

c i nga hng v dng chn gi mng gNhng cnh i qua vn sng ng nhng kia

trong lp sng dy.

Ka, c con chim tr ma di tn rng m tNng ln riNgm git nc mt bay i!



43/61


79

I Ti

Oh, Ive seen my destinyjust a goose feathertrying to hold on to someones shoulderfor a little warmththen blown away by a gale...

In these days cold and clearthe feather whirls in a dance of its owna self-pitying dance of bliss and sorrowa painful dance of passiona free dance of solitudewhirling in silence

whirling

in silence...

, ti nhn thy s phn timt chic lng ngngc bm vo vai o aitm cht hi mth ri gi n thi ti bay...

Trong nhng ngy lnh lo trong tro nychic lng ngng v ln mt v iu ringv iu hn hoan ti bunv iu au n m sayv iu t do n clng l ln bay

lng l ln

bay...



44/61

81

Frosty fog Sng gi

I draw into spacea gure who truly knows me

then silentlywe sit side by side...

until even I become a frosty fogupon a shermans shoulders...

Ti v ln trong khng gianmt bng hnh tri k

lng lngi xung bn nhau...

cho ti khi c ti cng bin thnh sng gitrn vai ngi i cu...


45/61


46/61



47/61

87

Resurrection Hi sinh

you are mepure-but-already-deada shadow oating back with the autumn mist...

I am youin the eyes so green and brightpaddling the Styxs water with smiles.

Em l titrng trong- nhng- -chtsng ma thu nng khi bng ai v...

Ti l emtrong mt ngi bing bickha n ci qua bn l sng m.



48/61

89

Changing l ife Chuyn kip

The silkworm puzzlesseeing the sky

newly hatched

Having given up its silk threadall of it...

can it y?

Con tm b ngnhn da tri

mi n

Rt ht rut nyn c th...

bay?



49/61

9

You V anh 1

You are hereon my esh and skineach and every inch of meritual of the blanketancient dwelling cave

the ame of handswhere darkness and light interlacedno more night and daynor revelation ignorance

Doesnt mean that you are not out thereying a plane over the black continent,mowing down wild grasses, seekingthe remains of your parents home on the mountain,

pouring out colorsto dry up xations old and bitterapping wings in the struggle with freedomand death.

This evening I knowyoure a stream of sunshine on this palm of mine...

Anh ytrn da tht emtng-mi-li-mtnghi l ca chnhang ng thi tin s

ngn la bn tayni bng ti ha cng nh sngkhng ranh gii m ngyng - m.

Khng c ngha l anh khng ngoi kiali my bay trn lc a en,pht c hoang tmdu ngi nh cha m xa trn ni,

mu racho cn dng n cvy vng cng t do vcht.

Chiu nayem bit anh l sui nng trong lng tay...



50/61

9

You 2 V anh 2

Nightlight and hollowin the faint rumbling of traclike the solitary ocean

and alike everywhereBoston, Moscow, Paris or Hanoi Is it true that darkness exposes the nature of the worldlight only shows the surface?Is silence the ultimate soundloaded and foreboding?and is it true that you are my own subconsciousseen only in dreams?

mnh v rngnhng ting xe m xa xinh bin c n c

v ging nhau tt c mi niBoston, Moscow, Paris hay H Ni C phi bng ti tr li bn cht cho th gii nynh sng ch phi by b mt?C phi im ng l m thanh cao nhtcha cht, bo hiu?C phi anh l tim thc ca emtrong cn m tri dy?



51/61

95

Gic m Ging sinh

Dng dctngtngtngtngln mu ru mcnhng mttri trnmy m ging

tm chn t sngcht chm trong nhng ta cao ctrong ting g g ca my iu hacon qui vt khng lbt ng.

Cy thng Nen v nhng nh n chmkhin ti thnh lc lng

ai t vo tay ti qu cu thy tinh:c mt ci bn 4 ngi n, sp ang st nngting tha bt lanh canh... l bn nhc no, t khc s bao nhiu, chng my?Mt m bo ctanh l c oo nh cui cng trc khi ti nhm mtmu xanh.

Christmas dream

Endlesswallwallwallwallpatined with mossy mouldsquares of eyestaring as if they are dyingclouds of fog spreading

a soggy blanketdrown in skyscrapersin the growling sound of aircongiant monsterimmobile.

Christmas Tree and the play of lightmake me lost

someone put in my hand a crystal globe:theres a four-seat dinning table, steaming soupthe silver clink-clanks...what is that music, whose and which opus number?Sand storm blurs my eyesightyou are the oasisthe last illusion before deathhued in green.



52/61

97

Nay m ai

m nayti t o huyt chn mnhNgy mai

ti s lm c du o miChn ht nhng dn vt kh autr anh v vi i thngv ti.

Hnh nh c mt a cm ci trong gc tiiti.

Someday

TonightI dig and get burried in my own graveTomorrow

Ill play a bride in new wedding gownBurry all guilty sorrowsrelease you back to lifenormal and innocent.

There seems a dumb creature smiling in a dark cornerwaitingfor me.



53/61

99

Rainy day Ngy m a

I lie down in youmy very gravethis deaths desiredthis deaths unavoidableyoure my last place

emgulng menot leaving me alonein darknessrainy dayI shall not strugglenot lament not crya hare in submission I liecover me with dirt pleaserain... please...

Em nm xung anhhuyt m ca mnhci cht c mong chci cht khng trnh khianh l chn cui

bao bc ly emkhng b em mt mnhtrong bng tingy maem s khng vy vngkhng khc thannm ngoan nh thhy ph t ln ngi em ima... i...



54/61

101

An i

Ch l nhng bi th thich l nhng mu tht thiem s thnh hnh hi trong bng tianh s thi vo em mt linh hn ngi ngi

mnh s thnh mt i tr hi ngqua cn ma m hp hihin nh mt chim ban mai.

Consolation

Simply poemssimply esh and bloodIll be embodied in the darkyoull breath into me a pristine soul

well become a couple of cherubsand when the dying rain is gone with the nighta bird nest is there under the eaves at daybreak.



55/61

103

Mt tri mi

Ch ht th, ch ng l mnh thicng c li,trn trc sut mgi nh tri t l mt qu cu chi

ti s gi tay gi n lith l ht sng-kh, bun-vui, nh-qun, sng-ti...Th nhngsm mai ra li thy mt tri,cm bnh nc ti cy con va trngnhy mt vi ci l noncho ngy mi!

New s un

Just breathing and being myselfmake me feel guilty,sleepless all nightif the earth were a toy globe

I would catch it with my handand everything would stop: sorrow and happyness, joyand sadness, forgetting and remembering, light anddarkness...Howevermorning comes and I see the sun again,a pitcher in hand watering a newly planted seedlinggiving a budding leave a winksaluting a new day!



56/61

105

River, grass, f ire and the moon Sng, c, la v trng

Missingis like a riverowing through the heart forever.

Lovingis like grassjust spreading green and unstoppable.

Impassionatingis like a ameemblazing everything it touches.

Sufferingis like the moon

pure and calm.

Nhnh l sngtri chy trong lng.

Yunh l cxanh ngt n thun.

Mnh l lachm vo ci g cng sng.

aunh l trng

thanh thn.



57/61

107

Fal l ing Ri

Loves a fathomless abyss of sorrowOne day

wefall...

... in a prolonged climaxing crybecoming a holy pair of birds ying towards the sun...

Yu bun su vc thmMt ngy kia

ta

ri....

....trong ting ku di tuyt nhthnh i chim thing si cnh mt tri...



58/61

109

To fly Bay

Theres a beauty indescribableemerging like darknessI go...

to youtowards the sun taking off!

C mt v p bun khng t nidng ln nh bng tiem i...

v anhv pha mt tri ct cnh!



59/61

Ti xin cm n tt c nhng ngi thnthit ht sc c v v gip ti ra cunsch ny, nhng ngi bn Vit Nam v cnhng ngi bn nc ngoi, nhng ngikhng mun c nu tn y nhng qutht khng c h hn tp th ny khng

th ra i.

Cm n Nh xut bn Vn hc v Nh Nam dnh cho tp th ny nhng quan tm vh tr vt qu s mong i khim nhngca mt tc phm u tay.

c bit, ti xin trn trng cm n dch giTrnh L, ngi cho nhng bi th nymt cuc sng na trong ngn ng Anh, v

cho cun sch ny mt hnh hi ring bit.Ti cng xin cm t Tin s Rose Moxhamv cng vic hiu nh qu gi ca b chobn Natural Color.

Hm Anh

Id like to thank many people who haveencouraged and supported me in this proj-ect my dear friends in Viet Nam as wellas overseas, those who dont want to beacknowledged by name here but the truth isthat without them this selection would have

never been published.

Im thankful to the Literature PublishingHouse and Nha Nam, whose care and workshave gone beyond my humble expectationsfor a rst book like this one.

With due respect, I want to give specialthanks to Mr. Trinh Lu, who has given thesepoems another life in the English language,

and this book a unique look. Last but notleast, I would like to thank Dr. Rose Moxhamfor her valuable editing of Natural Color.

Ham Anh



60/61

Hm Anh tt nghip Trng Vit vn mang tnM.Goc-ki, Mtxcva (LB Nga). Nhng bn dchth Anna Akhmatva ca ch c trao giithng ca Hi nh vn v Tun bo Vn ngh(1994). Mu t nhin l tp th c xut bn utin ca ch.

Trnh L l ngi dch vn hc. Bn dch Cuci ca Pi ca ng c trao Gii thng Dchthut ca Hi nh vn H Ni (2004) v Hi nhvn Vit Nam (2005).

Ham Anh graduated from the M. Gorky Schoolof Creative Writing in Moscow. Her translation ofAnna Arkhmatovas works was awarded by theViet Nam Association of Writers and the Litera-ture & Arts Weekly (1994).Natural coloris herrst published selected poems.

Trinh Lu is a literary translator. His Vietnamesetranslation ofLife of Pi won the Translation Awardof the Ha Noi Association of Writers (2004) andthe Viet Nam Association of Writers (2005).


61/61

Mu t nhinth Hm Anh

NH XUT BN VN HC18 Nguyn Trng T, Ba nh, H Niin thoi: (84-4) 829-4684/829-4685

Fax: (84-4) 829-4781Email: [email protected]

Chi nhnh ti TP H Ch Minh290/20 Nam k Khi ngha

in thoi: (84-9) 846-9858/848-3481

Chu trch nhim xut bnNguyn C

Bin tp: Anh VTrnh by: Trnh LSa bn in:

Lin kt xut bn v pht hnh:

CNG TY VN HA & TRUYN THNG NH NAM1B/IF1, Thi Thnh, ng a, H Ni

in thoi: (84-4) 514-6875Fax: (84-4) 514-6965

i din ti TP H Ch Minh:166A H Vn Hu, Phng 9, Qun Ph Nhun

in thoi: (84-8) 845-6072Fax: (84-8) 997-1916

In 1000 cun, kh 115 X 186 mm ti ................................................................. Cn c trn s ng k k hoch xut bn: ....................................... v quyt nh xut bn s ....................... ca Nh xut bnVn hc ngy .............. In xong v np lu chiu nm qu I, 2008.

mau tu nhien - ham anh

Documents